The Auburn City Council on Monday postponed a final vote on the proposed Safe Syringe Program ordinance after public pushback that bubbled over at times during the discussion.

Several residents spoke against the ordinance, including state Reps. Laurel Libby and Quentin Chapman, both Auburn Republicans who are concerned that it could lead to an increase in illegal activity and needle waste.

Some councilors honed in on one concern from residents, taking issue with there being no needle exchange rate cap in the ordinance.

Mayor Jeff Harmon reminded them that experts who gave state testimony to the Legislature and local testimony in Auburn recommended no exchange rate cap.

At-large Councilor Adam Platz said he doesn’t believe the exchange programs fuel drug addiction, but he is concerned about syringe litter increasing on public property. 

He took issue with the lack of a rate cap and withdrew his support for the proposed ordinance. But he still supported implementing an ordinance regulating them.

Ward 2 Councilor Timothy Cowan was concerned about what could happen if the city doesn’t pass a safe needle exchange ordinance. He thinks it would be a disservice to the city not to have an ordinance in place. He does not want to see Auburn vulnerable to similar public health issues seen at the Church of Safe Injection in Lewiston last year.

Ward 1 Councilor Rachel Randall, Ward 5 Councilor Leroy Walker Sr. and At-large Councilor Belinda Gerry said they did not support the ordinance.

Platz suggested starting out with a one-to-one needle exchange rate, where someone must bring back one used needle to receive a new one. Later in the meeting he suggested increasing that to a one-to-10 needle exchange cap.

But Harmon was concerned that it could lead to people carrying around used needles longer. 

People in the audience became disruptive at times, prompting Harmon to issue a warning they would be removed from council chambers if they did not quiet down.

Later in council discussions, while Harmon was speaking, some residents started yelling at him and made negative comments toward him before walking out. He told others who did not quiet down to leave.

The council will take up the matter again on July 21.